egan the great battles of the Somme, when our New
Army displayed before an admiring world its magnificent fighting
qualities.

_July 9th, 1916._

Things have been moving "a few" (as the Yanks say) on this front,
haven't they? Let no one, however, delude himself with the belief
that the business can be done in five minutes. Things in general
in this war have a habit of moving slowly; also the enemy is
undoubtedly well defended. Some of his dug-outs are 30 and 40
feet deep, with machine-guns on electric hoists, etc. The wily
Boche has not wasted his time during his twenty odd months on
this front. But what a relief it is to get back to action after
so many months of sitting still!

I have seen numbers of wounded go through the various railheads.
These cases were comparatively light wounds, the serious cases
being removed by motor ambulance. But many of the gallant chaps I
saw seemed in considerable pain. They were sent off in batches as
soon as possible to a seaport, the returning supply trains being
utilised for this purpose. Every one was in an incredible state
of grime. It is the griminess of modern warfare that strikes me
as its most characteristic feature.

For a whole fortnight I have lived, moved and had my being in a
motor-lorry. I found it quite comfortable, though it was not
inside the body of the vehicle that I had my dwelling. You see
the lorries are almost always full of rations ready for delivery;
so I slept in the driver's seat, and found it quite tolerable. It
is just like the driver's seat on a motor-bus; in fact, many of
the lorries are old London General omnibuses converted.
Personally, I never wish for anything better, least of all on
active service. There was a cushion and I had my blanket bag.
What more could a man want?

The Ulster Division did remarkably well in the recent fighting. I
am not surprised, for I saw them training in England, and was
impressed by their toughness--hard-bitten, short, powerfully
built men, who took things very seriously.

I can't tell you with what joy and pride I learnt that Lloyd
George had been made Minister for War! I regard him as the
outstanding personality of the age. Granted that he is sometimes
rash, granted that he does not